Clip for installing heating element



Jan. 22, 1963 L. M. WATSON 3,074,676

cup FOR INSTALLING HEATING ELEMENT Filed Oct. 3, 1960 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl G 2 INVENTOR.

LEE N. WATSON ATTORNEY Jan. 22, 1963 M. WATSON 3,074,676

' CLIP FOR INSTALLING HEATING ELEMENT Filed on. :5, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet2 INVENTOR.

LEE M. WATSON ATTORNEY" Jan; 22, 1963 Filed Oct. 3, 1960 M. WATSON3,074,676

CLIP FOR INSTALLING HEATING ELEMENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. l2

INVHVTOR.

LEE M. WATSON ATTORNEY 3,074,676 CLIP FUR INSiTALLING HEATING ELEMENTLee M. Watson, Lakeville, Ind., assignor to Easy-Heat, Inc, New(Iariisle, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Oct. 3, 1960, Ser. No.60,040 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-71) The present invention relates to clips andmore particularly to clips for installing heating elements on and alongthe edge of roots and along building eaves and eaves troughs.

In the past various types of heating devices have been used to preventthe accumulation of ice and snow in and over eaves troughs and on theadjacent part of the roof, to minimize the damage to these structures bythe excessive weight and contraction and expansion of the ice and snowover an extended period of time during the winter months. This conditionis particularly serious in areas of the country in which the snowfall isheavy and accompanied by partial thawing and freezing. The devices usedin the past have been primarily limited to the eaves troughs and to theimmediate surrounding areas and consequently have not resulted incomplete elimination of the snow and ice causing the damage to thetroughs and the adjacent building structures. Attempts have been made tostring heating wire along the lower portion of the roof, but diflicultyhas been encountered in retaining the wire in place against the movementof the snow and ice downwardly toward the edge of the roof and/or inavoiding damage to the roof by the fixtures, nails or the like employedto secure the wire in place. It is therefore one of the principalobjects of the present invention to provide a clip or fixture which canbe readily installed on a roof at any desired location without creatingleaks or points of potential leaks and which will retain the wire firmlyin place against the action of the snow and ice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clip of the aforesaidtype which can easily be secured to the roof without the use of anyspecial tools and with unskilled labor, and which remains permanently inplace without causing any consequential damage to the roof, eitherduring the securing operation or during the life of the installation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a versatile clip orfixture for retaining heating wire and the like in place on a shingleroof, which can be placed in a number of different positions, eitherparallel or transverse with the position of the shingles, and whichpermits the wire to be laid in any desired arrangement on the roof, inand over the eaves trough and in channels and gutters, without the useof nails, staples or other separate securing or fastening means.

A further object is to provide a clip or fixture of the aforesaid typewhich can be easily fabricated from strip or sheet metal such as steel,aluminum or copper, and which after installation firmly and permanentlygrips or holds the heating wire.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a house showing two sidesand the roof thereof, and my heating element installed along the loweredge of the roof;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a fragmentary portion of the roof shown inFIGURE 1, showing one of the present clips installed thereon andsupporting a section of heating wire;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of the roof portion shown inFIGURE 2 taken on line 33 3,074,676 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 ine it of thelatter figure, showing the manner in which the present clip is installedon the roof;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the pres ent clip;

FI rURE 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clip shown inFIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURES 4 and5;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a clip of standard size showing themanner in which the heating Wire is held firmly by the clip;

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a strip of metal stock from which the presentclip is stamped, showing in broken lines the points at which the stripis severed in producing a series of clips;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a blank severed from the strip shown inFIGURE 8 before the blank is formed into the finished clip;

FIGURE 10 is a top plan view of a modified form of the present clip;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 12 is an end elevational view of the clip shown in FIGURES 10 and11.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 inparticular, numeral 20 designates a building structure having side walls22 and 24, roof 2 6, and eaves trough 28 secured to the cave 30 of roof26 by any suitable means (not shown), and numeral 32 designates aheating wire arranged in a zig-zag configuration along the edge of theroof and above the eaves trough and secured in place by a plurality ofthe clips 34 forming the subject matter of the present invention. Theroof consists of sheeting 36 of suitable continuous mate rial andshingles 38, the shingles being constructed of composition material,such as layers of fibrous sheets treated and secured together in alaminated structure by asphalt or other suitable material, and beingsufiiciently flexible and tenacious to permit puncturing withoutsplitting, cracking or tearing at any place except at the point wherethe perforations are made. The shingles are laid in the conventionalmanner, each successively higher row of shingles overlapping the oneimmediately below approximately to the extent shown in FIGURE 3. Thistype of roof is extensively used. in homes and small buildingconstruction, and the shingles which may be of the interlocking type aremanufactured by a number of well known firms.

The heating element 32 shown in the drawing may be of a single ormultiple insulated wire construction connected at one end by a cold lead(not shown) to an electrical supply circuit and may be controlled by athermostat, either incorporated in the element on the roof or in aseparate control box located in such a place that it will be responsiveto atmospheric temperatures. The Wire is electrically insulated andpreferably coated with a water and weather proof and abrasive-resistantplastic material of well known composition.

The embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGURES 2 through 7consists of a body portion 40 of flat metal strip material withlongitudinal edges 41 and 41', a sharply pointed spur 42 at one end anda similar sharply pointed spur 44 at an intermediate point along portion40, the two spurs preferably formed integrally with portion 40 and beingsufiiciently pointed to readily penetrate and perforate the shinglestructure when the clip is being installed. The two spurs 42 and 44 aretriangular in shape with a base portion joined to body portion 40 andbeing transversely positioned at right angles with respect tolongitudinal edges 41 and 41 of the body portion. The end of portion 40opposite spur 42 contains a hook-like member 46 formed integrally withportion 40 and having a base 48 and two prongs 50 and 52 extendinglaterally at a slight angle throughout their length and being adapted tobend inwardly toward portion 40 after the heating element wire has beenplaced between th: prongs and the adjacent part of portion 40 andagainst base 48. Since the heating element Wire in most installations isbent away from the clip in the manner illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 7,base 5% is preferably curved at a substantial are from one side to theother to eliminate any possibility of the wire insulation or coatingbeing cut or torn by the edges of the base. The angular position ofprongs 5t and 52 facilitates anchoring or gripping of the wire by theprongs when they are bent inwardly after the wire has been inserted inplace against base 4-8, as well as preventing any appreciable distortionof the base and portion 40 during the bending operation. While two spursare shown in the embodiment just described, only one, either spur 42 or44, or three or more may be employed if desired or necessary to meet anyparticular installation requirements. The clips are usually made ofmetal; however, they may be made of plastic or other suitable material.

One of the advantages of the present clip is the ease with which it canbe fabricated, as is illustrated in FIGURES 8 and 9 wherein it is seenthat the entire clip blank 60 is stamped in a single operation from along strip 62 of metal, such as steel, aluminum or copper, with prongsSt) and 52 being formed by the removal of spur 42 of the adjacent blankfrom therebetween. Spur 44 is stamped directly from body portion 4%? andbent laterally at the point of juncture 64, and spur 42 is bentlaterally at the point of juncture 66 at the upper end of portion 40.The two spurs may be bent to their laterally extending position at thetime blank 60 is stamped from strip 62, Whereas the hook member wouldnormally be formed in a separate operation in which the curvature isstamped into the base and prongs Stl and 52 bent laterally to theangular position clearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 5. If desired, thefinished clip may be plated or coated with a suitable protective filmsuch as neoprene.

In using the present clip, portion 4! with the spurs extending at rightangles thereto is slipped beneath the lower half of a shingle overlyingthe upper half of the shingle immediately below, and is preferably sopositioned with respect to the lower edge of the upper shingle that thepart of portion 40 directly beneath prongs Sit and 52 is fully exposed.With the clip in this position, the upper shingle is pressed firmlydownwardly onto spurs 42 and 44, causing the spurs to puncture theshingle and in most instances extend completely therethrough. The endsof the spurs projecting through the shingle are bent downwardly, i.e.toward hook member 46, clinching the spurs and retaining the clip firmlyin place on the roof. The heating element wire is then placed within thehook member against base 48 and one or both of the two prongs are bentinwardly and downwardly over the wire to clamp it securely in place inthe clip. It is seen that while spurs 42 and 44 may puncture the uppershingle, no leak condition is created in that the upper half of theshingle below extends well above the upper end of the clip so that anywater which might drip through the perforations in the upper shinglewill drain again onto the exposed surfaces of the shingles. One methodof laying the heating wire is illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the wireis shown in a zig-zag arrangement along the edge of the roof extendinginto the eaves trough. This arrangement prevents clogging of the troughwith snow and ice and the accumulation on the caves of sufi'icient snowto cause damage to the trough and adjacent structure.

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 10, 11 and 12 issimilar to the one previously described, consisting of a body portion 70of flat metal strip material, end and intermediate spurs i2 and 74,respectively, and hook-like member 76. 1e principal difference betweenthe present embodiment and the one described is the shape of the hookmember which in the modified form is a single member rather thanbifurcated, and does not extend laterally beyond the plane of the twoedges of portion 70. Member 76 consists of an arcuate base 78 to whichis attached a tongue 88 extending parallel with portion 7%) and beingstraight across the free end. This embodiment of the present clip issecured to the shingles in the same manner as the first embodimentdescribed herein, with spurs '72 and 7d extending upwardly through thelower half of a particular shingle and with the hook member 76 fullyexposed beneath the lower edge of the shingle. The heating element Wireis placed in the hook member with the Wire against the arcuate surfaceof base 73 and tongue $6 is bent downwardly, clamping or retaining thewire in place in member 76.

While the drawings have been principally directed to the use of thepresent clip in the vertical direction with the hook member extendingbeneath the lower edge of the shingle to which the clip is secured, theclip can be placed in other positions such as horizontally or at someangle between vertical and horizontal with the clip from the side of theshingle or from the lower edge perpendicular to the angular sections ofheating wire as shown at numerals 82 and 84 in FIGURE 1.

While only two embodiments o fthe clip have been described in detailherein, various other modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A clip for attaching a heating element wire to shingle roofs andsimilar structures, comprising a sheet metal elongated body havingopposite broad sides and longitudinal edges, a triangularly-shapedsharp-pointed spur having a base portion integrally attached to one endof said body and projecting laterally from one of said broad sides, ahook-like member at the other end of said body, said member consistingof an arcuate base integrally joined to said body and projectinglaterally in the same direction as said spur and two angularly andlaterally extending prongs joined to said base and overlying said body,and a triangularly-shaped sharppointed spur having a base portionintegrally attached to said body and disposed between and spacedlongitudinally along said body from said first mentioned spur and hookmember and projecting laterally from said body in the same direction assaid first mentioned spur, said base portions of the triangularly-shapedspurs being transversely positioned at right angles with respect to saidlongitudinal edges of the elongated body.

2. A clip for attaching a heating element wire to shingle roofs andsimilar structures, comprising an elongated body having opposite broadsides and longitudinal edges, a triangularly-shaped sharp-pointed spurhaving a base portion secured to said body and projecting laterally fromone of said broad sides, a hook-like member with an arcuate bottomportion at one end of said body, said member consisting of a baseintegrally joined to said body and projecting laterally in the samedirection as said spur and two angularly and laterally extending prongsjoined to said base and overlying said body, and a triangularly-shapedsharp-pointed spur having a base portion secured to said body anddisposed between and spaced longitudinally along said body from saidfirst mentioned spur and hook member and projecting laterally from saidbody in the same direction as said first mentioned spur, said baseportions of the triangularly-shaped spurs being transversely positionedat right angles with respect to said longitudinal edges of the elognatedbody.

3. A clip for attaching a heating element wire to shingle roofs andsimilar structures, comprising an elongated body having opposite broadsides and longitudinal edges, a triangularly-shaped sharp-pointed spurhaving a base portion secured to said body and projecting laterallytherefrom, an arcuate shaped hook-like member at one end of said body,and a triangularly-shaped sharppointed spur having a base portionsecured to said body and disposed between and spaced longitudinallyalong said body from said first mentioned spur and hook member andprojecting laterally from said body in the same direction as said firstmentioned spur, said base portions of the triangularly-shaped spursbeing transversely positioned at right angles with respect to saidlongitudinal edges of the elongated body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,498,947 Bewan June 24, 1924 2,672,314 Mitchell Mar. 16, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 5,729 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1911

1. A CLIP FOR ATTACHING A HEATING ELEMENT WIRE TO SHINGLE ROOFS ANDSIMILAR STRUCTURES, COMPRISING A SHEET METAL ELONGATED BODY HAVINGOPPOSITE BROAD SIDES AND LONGITUDINAL EDGES, A TRIANGULARLY-SHAPEDSHARP-POINTED SPUR HAVING A BASE PORTION INTEGRALLY ATTACHED TO ONE ENDOF SAID BODY AND PROJECTING LATERALLY FROM ONE OF SAID BROAD SIDES, AHOOK-LIKE MEMBER AT THE OTHER END OF SAID BODY, SAID MEMBER CONSISTINGOF AN ARCUATE BASE INTEGRALLY JOINED TO SAID BODY AND PROJECTINGLATERALLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID SPUR AND TWO ANGULARLY ANDLATERALLY EXTENDING PRONGS JOINED TO SAID BASE AND OVERLYING SAID BODY,AND A TRIANGULARLY-SHAPED SHARP-